Peperomia plant named ‘Napoli Nights’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Peperomia  plant named ‘Napoli Nights’ that is characterized by leaves that have a grey-green colored pattern on the upper surface and are pink-red on the lower surface.

Botanical classification: Peperomia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Napoli Nights’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPeperomia plant botanically known as Peperomia hybrid and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Napoli Nights’.

‘Napoli Nights’ originated from the crossing of the female or seedparent, an unnamed Peperomia peruviana cultivar and the male or pollenparent, an unnamed Peperomia marmorata cultivar. The crossing wasconducted in 2013 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. The resulting seeds weresubsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘Napoli Nights’ wasselected by the inventor in 2014 in a controlled environment as a singleplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated area ofSappemeer, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Napoli Nights’ first occurredby leaf cuttings in 2014 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. Since that time,under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newPeperomia cultivar ‘Napoli Nights’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘Napoli Nights’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart fromother existing varieties of Peperomia known by the inventor.

-   -   1. Peperomia ‘Napoli Nights’ exhibits leaves that have a        grey-green colored pattern on the upper surface and are pink-red        on the lower surface.

The closest comparison cultivars are Peperomia ‘Eden Rosso’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 24,379) and Peperomia ‘Sunrise’ (U.S. application Ser. No.15/330,448) ‘Napoli Nights’ is distinguishable from ‘Eden Rosso’ by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Peperomia ‘Napoli Nights’ exhibits leaves having an upper        surface with a grey-green colored pattern. In comparison, the        upper leaf surface of ‘Eden Rosso’ is green.    -   2. Peperomia ‘Napoli Nights’ exhibits leaves having a lower        surface that is pink-red. In comparison, the leaf lower surface        of ‘Eden Rosso’ is red.

‘Napoli Nights’ is distinguishable from ‘Sunrise’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Peperomia ‘Napoli Nights’ exhibits larger leaves than the        leaves of ‘Sunrise’.

‘Napoli Nights’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. The leaves of ‘Napoli Nights’ are more oval in shape than the        leaves of the female parent plant. In comparison, the leaves of        the female parent plant are more rounded.    -   2. The upper surface of the leaves of ‘Napoli Nights’ exhibit a        grey-green pattern. In comparison, the upper surface of the        leaves of the female parent plant are green.

‘Napoli Nights’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. The leaves of ‘Napoli Nights’ are less elongated than the        leaves of the male parent plant.    -   2. The upper surface of the leaves of ‘Napoli Nights’ exhibit a        grey-green pattern. In comparison, the upper surface of the        leaves of the male parent plant are dark green.    -   3. The lower surface of the leaves of ‘Napoli Nights’ are        pink-red. In comparison, the lower surface of the leaves of the        male parent plant are red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofPeperomia ‘Napoli Nights’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 35week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance, it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Peperomia cultivarnamed ‘Napoli Nights’. Data was collected in Sappemeer, Netherlands from35 week old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 15 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was Winter and the temperature range was18-25 degrees Centigrade during the day and 15-18 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘Napoli Nights’ has not been tested under all possibleconditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without anyvariance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Peperomia hybrid ‘Napoli Nights’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘Napoli Nights’ is a hybrid of the female parent, an    unidentified Peperomia peruviana cultivar and the male parent an    unidentified Peperomia marmorata cultivar.-   Plant type: Potted plant.-   Growth habit: Rosette.-   Plant shape: Flattened globe shaped.-   Suitable container size: 7 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height: 9.5 cm.-   Plant width: 18.3 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Low temperature tolerance: 5° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 40° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 10 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 14 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 80 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (winter): 100 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Crop time: Approximately 30 to 35 weeks in Sappemeer, Netherlands.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Short thick stems branching into rosettes            of leaves.        -   Number of main stems per plant.—Average 10.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—Average 40.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—1.6 cm. in length and 0.5 cm. in            width.        -   Internode length.—0.10 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem angle.—Vertical, zero degrees.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color (young).—148A.        -   Stem color (mature).—148A.        -   Internode color.—148A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per main stem.—Average 50.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Convex to carinate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—4.1 cm. in length and 2.3 cm. in width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous (both surfaces).        -   Leaf luster.—Glossy (both surfaces).        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel, furrowed.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—N189B, surrounding veins            N189A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—182B, surrounding veins            176B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—189A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—176B.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—139A.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—200C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole dimensions.—5.8 cm. in length and 0.3 cm. in            diameter.        -   Petiole texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Petiole pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole strength.—Low.        -   Petiole color.—145C with fine stripes 181B.-   Flower: ‘Napoli Nights’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘Napoli Nights’ has not produced fruit or seed to    date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Peperomiaplant named ‘Napoli Nights’ as described and illustrated.